wranglen.
/ˈraŋɡl/, U.S. /ˈræŋɡ(ə)l/ 1. An angry dispute or noisy quarrel; an altercation or bitter disputation. Also figurative.
ΘΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > [noun] > noisy or angry quarrel > instance of
ganglinga1387
altercation1410
brawla1500
heat1549
wranglea1555
brabble1566
paroxysm1578
wrangling1580
brangle1600
branglement1617
rixation1623
row1746
skimmington1753
mêlée1765
breeze1785
squeal1788
hash1789
rook1808
blow-up1809
blowout1825
scena1826
reerie1832
catfight1854
barney1855
wigs on the green1856
bull and cow1859
scrap1890
slanging match1896
snap1897
up-and-downer1927
brannigan1941
rhubarb1941
bitch fight1949
punch-up1958
shout-up1965
shouting match1970
a1555 H. Latimer Let. in J. Foxe Actes & Monuments (1563) 1350/2 Or els he had neuer come into this wrangle for his own goods with your brother.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Noise, brabble,..wrangle, squabble.
1673 in O. Airy Essex Papers (1890) I. 92 [This] animated all those persons who were mutinous & discontented..to raise wrangles & cavills at what ever I did.
1732 J. Swift Consideration Two Bills in Wks. (1755) V. ii. 202 An infinite number of wrangles [1732: Brangles] and litigious suits in the spiritual courts.
1779 G. Keate Sketches from Nature (ed. 2) II. 72 When discord agitated the assembly of the gods, and their wrangles had made a bear-garden of Olympus.
1787 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) II. 335 The complicated wrangles of this continent.
1839 T. Mitchell in Aristophanes Frogs p. cvi Preferring the songs of Colonean nightingales to the wrangles of the stage.
1859 J. G. Holland Gold Foil xxiv. 279 The disgraceful wrangles of the religious newspapers.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People iv. §2. 171 Each..had to be extorted after a long wrangle between the borough and the officers.
a. A disputatious answer or argument. Obsolete.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > [noun] > instance of
flitec1000
plead1379
traverse1415
controversyc1430
disputation1557
tilt1567
wrangle1579
controverse1596
velitation1607
dispute1611
rixation1623
polemic1626
fireball1638
polemy1642
risse1684
polemical1808
spar1836
row1879
set-to1898
cag1916
barge1934
yike1976
stand-up2005
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > [noun] > matter of controversy
causea1500
wrangle1579
vexed question1614
vexata quaestioa1634
controversial1653
battlefield1820
1579 W. Wilkinson Confut. Familye of Loue f. 21v To the fourme of wordes he hath formed a wrangle, the matter he graunteth belike to be true.
b. A controversy. Obsolete.
Π
1752 W. Law Spirit of Love (1766) i. 1 Your Objections rather tend to stir up the Powers of Love, than the Wrangle of a rational Debate.
3. Without article: The action of wrangling; angry altercation or argument; noisy dispute or contention.
ΘΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > [noun] > noisy or angry quarrel
flitingc1200
chidec1325
bicker1330
janglingc1330
chiding1340
wrangling1377
brawling1393
altercationc1405
words1410
brabblementa1563
wording1564
brabblery1567
bickering1573
jarring1574
bickerment1586
frapling1600
brangling1611
jangle1641
campling1660
frabble1685
collieshangie1737
flickering1776
wranglea1797
brabbling1858
bassa-bassa1956
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George III (1845) III. iii. 81 From this dialogue the assembly fell to wrangle, and broke up quarrelling.
1824 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto XV xci. 50 None can hate So much as I do any kind of wrangle.
1834 Countess Granville Lett. (1894) II. 159 They are just well and ill enough together to turn the stream of wrangle into a new channel.
1877 T. De W. Talmage Serm. 255 The Book of Job has been the subject of unbounded theological wrangle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
wranglev.
/ˈraŋɡl/, U.S. /ˈræŋɡ(ə)l/ 1. figurative.1614 J. Cooke Greenes Tu Quoque K 2 b Let vs no longer wrangle with our Wittes, Or dally with our Fortunes.1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 207 The windes favorable, and the seas composed; but anon they began to wrangle and we to suffer.a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iii. iv. 142 Mens natures wrangle with inferior things. View more context for this quotationin extended use.1646 R. Crashaw Musicks Duell in Steps to Temple 104 In controverting warbles evenly shar'd, With her sweet selfe shee [a nightingale] wrangles.
a. intransitive. To dispute angrily; to argue noisily or vehemently; to altercate, contend; to bicker.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > quarrel or quarrelling > quarrel [verb (intransitive)] > in noisy or angry manner
flitec900
chidec1000
strivec1290
scold1377
wrangle1377
jangle1382
brawlc1440
bickera1450
to have words1490
altercate1530
jar1550
brangle1553
brabble1568
yed1570
fraple?a1598
barrat1600
warble1600
camp1606
to word it1612
caterwaul1621
cample1628
pickeer1651
spar1698
fratch1714
rafflea1796
row1797
barney1850
dudgeon1859
frabble1885
scrap1895
1377 [implied in: W. Langland Piers Plowman B. iv. 34 There as wratthe and wranglyng is þere wynne þei siluer. (at wrangling n. 1a)].
1552 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Altercor, to contende with wordes,..to wrangle.
1582 Bible (Rheims) 2 Tim. ii. 24 The servant of the Lord must not wrangle.
1582 R. Mulcaster 1st Pt. Elementarie xii. 75 The contrarie to right wold be soon espied, howsoeuer it [sc. the tongue] wrangle.
1633 G. Herbert Humilitie in Temple iv Here it is For which ye wrangle.
1653 I. Walton Compl. Angler 211 None do here Use to swear, Oathes do fray Fish away,..Fishes must not rangle . View more context for this quotation
1704 M. Prior Let. to Boileau Despreaux 192 With too much Heat, We sometimes wrangle, when We should debate.
1743 H. Fielding Jonathan Wild i. viii, in Misc. III. 47 First secure what Share you can, before you `wrangle for the rest'.
1774 O. Goldsmith Retaliation 55 Now rangling and grumbling to keep up the ball.
1847 G. P. R. James Convict iii Sometimes they laughed and wrangled good-humouredly enough.
1867 T. Wright Some Habits Working Classes 124 Even in cases in which no premeditated resolve to wrangle exists, wrangles often occur.
1879 W. H. Dixon Royal Windsor I. iii. 22 While his Norman lords were wrangling.
b. Const. about, against, anent, over, and esp. with (a person).
ΚΠ
c1400 Langland's P. Pl. C. xvii. 80 Þaugh couetyce wolde with þe poure wraxle [Camb. MS. wrangle] Þei mai nat come togederis.
c1535 Ploughman's Tale ii. sig. B.iiv Why cleymen they holy hys powere And wranglen ayenst all his hestes.
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) v. ii. sig. H.ijv Certaine men with you haue wrangled About the promise of mariage by you to them made.
1596 T. Bell Suruey Popery ii. ii. 194 Howsoeuer you wrangle about your formall succession.
1609 T. Dekker Guls Horne-bk. sig. B3v Did man..come wrangling into the world, about no better matters?
1650 tr. J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Reserata §795 They wrangle anent..that universal and present remedie, whether it bee to bee had or no.
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 202 Quarrelling and wrangling about their Wealth.
1746 Ld. Hardwicke in Harris Life (1847) II. 290 Wrangling about trifles, they lose great objects.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary I. xi. 255 They sometimes wrangle with her for an hour together under my study window.
1859 J. M. Jephson & L. Reeve Narr. Walking Tour Brittany i. 3 While rival farmers wrangle over rates and road-making.
1904 F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (ed. 2) II. 135 [They] were still wrangling with his mother and his many creditors.
c. To make a noise suggestive of or comparable to wrangling; to jangle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > unpleasant quality > harsh or discordant quality > harsh or discordant [verb (intransitive)]
yerrOE
discorda1398
jangle1494
missoundc1500
jara1529
jarglec1550
harsh1582
chide1594
caterwaul1621
murr1662
wrangle1816
girl1820
crank1827
saxophone1927
1816 L. Hunt Story of Rimini i. 178 The golden bits keep wrangling as they go.
1873 H. W. Longfellow Michael Angelo i. ii. (ad fin.) Low and loud the bells..Jangle and wrangle in their airy towers.
2. To argue or debate; to engage in controversy; formerly also, to dispute or discuss publicly as at a university, for or against a thesis, etc. Frequently const. about, over, upon, with. Also with clause (quots. a1586, 1592).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > academic or public disputation > debate publicly [verb (intransitive)]
to hold (also keep) schoolsc1475
debate1530
wrangle?1570
forensicate1858
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > contend, dispute, argue [verb (intransitive)]
flitec900
witherc1000
disputea1225
pleadc1275
strive1320
arguec1374
tolyc1440
toilc1450
wrestlec1450
altercate1530
disagree1534
dissent1538
contend1539
controvert1563
wrangle?1570
contestate?1572
to fend and prove?1578
contest1603
vie1604
controverse1605
discept1639
ergot1653
digladiatea1656
misprove1662
spar1698
argufy1804
spat1809
to cross swords1816
argle1823
to bandy words1828
polemize1828
controversialize1841
caffle1851
polemicize1881
ergotize1883
argy-bargy1887
cag1919
snack1956
?1570 T. Drant Two Serm. C iij b Hence wrangle the Iesuistes, hence wrastle the Sorbonistes.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. F1 So must they bee content little to mooue: sauing wrangling, whether Vertue bee the chiefe, or the onely good.
1592 A. Day 2nd Pt. Eng. Secretorie sig. H1v, in Eng. Secretorie (rev. ed.) I must wrangle why you stole away Toms bread and butter.
1612 J. Brinsley Ludus Lit. xvii. 208 In wrangling about words, not disputing to the purpose, and to the point.
1638 R. Baker tr. J. L. G. de Balzac New Epist. II. 182 Being resolved..to forsake my owne [opinion], if any man will wrangle with mee for it.
1665 J. Buck in G. Peacock Observ. Statutes Univ. Cambr. (1841) App. B. p. lxxii The Commencers and their Sophisters are disputing and wrangling there until the clock strikes 5.
1733 A. Pope Ess. Man i. 57 All the question (wrangle 'ere so long) Is only this, if God has plac'd him wrong?
1773 Ld. Monboddo Orig. & Progress of Lang. (1774) I. i. viii. 108 About which we see men wrangle and dispute without end.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. iii, in Poems 95 When..few [were ready] to write or wrangle for their Creed.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. III. xiii. 365 The factions of the Parliament House, awe-struck by the common danger, forgot to wrangle.
1877 H. M. Field Lakes of Killarney 75 For this reason..the Assembly wrangles over unimportant matters.
3. transitive.† a. With out: To argue out (a case, dispute, etc.); to contest or dispute contentiously to an end or issue. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > argue about, dispute [verb (transitive)] > reach conclusion
to scold it outa1592
wrangle1616
1616 B. Jonson Epicœne iv. vii, in Wks. I. 586 If I make 'hem not wrangle out this case, to his no comfort. View more context for this quotation
1632 R. Brome Northern Lasse v. ix While they wrangle out their cause, let vs agree.
1664 H. Power Exper. Philos. Concl. 184 If he could but stiffly wrangle out a vexatious dispute.
1728 Street-robberies, Consider'd 42 The poor Captain was left to wrangle it out with the People of the House.
b. In passive. To be argued or debated.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > contend, dispute, argue [verb (intransitive)] > be subject of argument
wrangle1742
1742 R. North & M. North Life F. North 165 And so it was wrangled off and on till the Session ended.
c. To utter wranglingly. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > argue about, dispute [verb (transitive)] > utter wranglingly
wrangle1761
1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy III. xxxviii. 178 All that had been wrote or wrangled thereupon in the schools and porticos of the learned.
4. To get (something) out of a person by bargaining; to obtain by wrangling.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > bargaining > bargain over [verb (transitive)] > get by bargaining
wrangle1624
wheel and deal1971
the mind > possession > acquisition > obtain or acquire [verb (transitive)] > obtain or acquire in a certain way > by wrangling
wrangle1624
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iii. 75 We wrangled out of the King ten quarters of Corne for a copper Kettell.
1934 in Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang.
1976 National Observer (U.S.) 31 Jan. 1/3 The pall of snowdrifts and ice would have impeded reinforcements' marching even if Arnold had been able to wrangle help from American Brig. Gen. David Wooster, a procrastinator who then occupied Montreal.
5. † c. reflexive. To harass (oneself) by altercation. Obsolete.
a. To influence or persuade (a person) by wrangling or contention; to argue out of a possession, etc., or in to some state.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > argue about, dispute [verb (transitive)] > in order to persuade
wranglea1643
syllogize1718
the mind > will > motivation > persuasion > persuade (a person) [verb (transitive)] > persuade or prevail upon > by arguing contention
wranglea1643
dispute1647
syllogize1718
a1643 J. Burroughs Sovereignty Brit. Seas (1651) 4 Princes..disdaining to bee wrangled out of the ancient rights and regalities.
1658 J. Bramhall Consecration Protestant Bishops Justified ix. 182 To wrangle the Church of England out of a good possession.
a1659 R. Brownrig 40 Serm. (1661) 234 Will a man..be wrangled out of his Evidences?
1675 T. Brooks Word in Season 107 in Paradice Opened All the Devils in hell shall never wrangle a Believer out of his heavenly inheritance.
1705 T. Hearne Remarks & Coll. (1885) I. 70 The Latter would have wrangled 'em out of it.
1847 C. G. F. Gore Castles in Air viii Moral philosophy [has] wrangled the world in and out of its senses.
b. To force or drive out of a place by wrangling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > expel > specific people from a place, position, or possession > by wrangling
wrangle1693
1693 C. Mather Wonders Invisible World 26 To wrangle the Devil out of the Country, will be truly a new Experiment.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > harass oneself in dispute [verb (reflexive)]
wrangle1649
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of being harassed > [verb (reflexive)] > harass oneself by altercation
wrangle1649
1649 R. Sanderson Let. 10 Apr. in G. D'Oyly Life W. Sancroft (1821) II. 442 When we have wrangled ourselves as long as our wits and strengths will serve us.
1721 N. Amhurst Terræ-filius 11 Feb. In this..mischievous Course have these our reverend old Mothers continu'd for several Centuries, wrangling themselves about Trifles.
6. With away, out. To consume, spend, or pass away (time) in wrangling. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > in some activity > in other specific activities
sigh1600
talk1676
pace1700
wrangle1794
singa1822
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > controversy, dispute, argument > argue about, dispute [verb (transitive)] > spending time in
wrangle1794
1794 A. M. Bennett Ellen IV. 230 They..may at last possibly agree to wrangle out the evening of their lives together.
1905 R. Garnett William Shakespeare Pedagogue & Poacher 53 Do I weakly Wrangle away my precious moments?
7. Western U.S. To take charge of (horses); to herd.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > [verb (transitive)] > herd horses
wrangle1899
1899 F. Remington Sundown Leflare 11 De herd, which was more horses..dan ten men kin wrangle.
1903 A. Adams Log of Cowboy xiii. 197 Forrest detailed Rod Wheat to wrangle the horses, for we intended to take Honey~man with us.
1952 H. Innes Campbell's Kingdom i. ii. 38 He wrangles a bunch of horses and acts as packer for the visitors in the summer.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1928; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
n.a1555v.1377